The Record of a Regiment of the Line | Page 2

Regiment that they carried out in
war their peace training, never allowing the atmosphere of excitement
to distort their actions.
If we take Elandslaagte, Wagon Hill, or any of the hundred and one
ticklish night operations in which they took part, this trait will be ever
noteworthy, that they acted as was to be expected of them, and made no
fuss of having done so.
We have all read realistic descriptions of troops on the march in South
Africa, the writer using all his cunning to depict the war-worn dirty
condition of his heroes, seeming to glean satisfaction from their
grease-stained khaki. It must be admitted that the South African War is
responsible for a somewhat changed condition of thought as regards
cleanliness and its relation to smartness. No such abstraction disturbed
the Devons; a Devon man was always clean. Individuals of some corps
could be readily identified by their battered helmets or split boots; not
so the Devons. No helmet badge was necessary for their identification,
and the veriest tyro could not fail to recognize at any time the crisply
washed Indian helmet cover.
It may be open to question whether it is for good or for evil that we

should broaden our views of what goes to make a smart and useful
fighting man, but the regimental system of the Devons was for no
innovation of a careless go-as-you-please style. I thus lay stress on the
individuality of the Devons in South Africa, because it was this
individuality of theirs, born of their regimental system, which enabled
them to claim so full a share in the success of that long-drawn-out
campaign.
No one can quite appreciatively follow the story of the work of the
Devons, unless he realizes the intense feeling of comradeship that
animates these West-country men. To work with Devonshire men is to
realize in the flesh the intensity of the local county loyalty so
graphically depicted by Charles Kingsley in his _Westward Ho!_ and
other novels.
In conclusion, let me add, a more determined crew I never wish to see,
and a better regiment to back his orders a General can never hope to
have.
[Illustration: [Signature - Walter Kitchener]]
DALHOUSIE, May, 1906.

PREFACE
BY THE AUTHOR
The story as told is an everyday account and a record of the work of the
men of the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment during the South
African War.
It exemplifies the devotion to duty, the stubbornness in adversity, and
the great fighting qualities of the West-country man, which qualities
existed in the time of Drake, and which still exist.
A repeating of their history of the past, a record of the present, and an
example for the generation to come.

CHAPTER I
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH
1899

On returning from the North-West Frontier of India at the close of the
Tirah Expedition, 1897-8, the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment,
which had served with distinction under the command of Colonel J.H.
Yule in the campaign against the Afridi clans, was ordered to proceed
from Peshawar to Jullunder, at which place it was quartered in 1898
and in the summer months of 1899, during which time certain
companies and detachments were furnished for duty at Dalhousie,
Kasauli, and Ghora Dakka (Murree Hills), and located during the hot
weather at these places.
Towards the latter end of August, 1899, news from South Africa
appeared ominous, and war seemed likely to break out between
England and the Transvaal.
On the 8th September, 1899, confidential instructions were received
from army head-quarters at Simla ordering the Regiment to get ready to
move at short notice to South Africa, and a few days later further orders
were received to entrain on the 16th September for Bombay en route to
the Transvaal, which country the Regiment was destined not to reach
for some months, and then only after severe fighting.
The companies quartered at Dalhousie and Ghora Dakka with difficulty
joined the head-quarters at Jullunder before the 16th, and the following
marches are worthy of record:--
The Dalhousie detachment marched to Pathankote, a distance of 54-1/4
miles, in two days. Major Curry, who was in command, gave each man
a coolie for his baggage, and ordered the men to get to Duneera the first
day the best way they could. At Duneera they halted for the night, and
the next day pushed on in the same manner to Pathankote, where they
immediately entrained and proceeded to Jullunder.
The Ghora Dakka detachment under Lieutenant Emerson marched to
Rawal Pindi, a distance of fifty-four miles, in two days, and then
entrained for Jullunder.
No men fell out in either party, and considering the time of year and the
intense heat, they were fine performances.

Some officers were on leave in Cashmere, and only arrived at Jullunder